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2 Sheets-Sheet l.

(No Model.)

A. H. TERWILLIGER.

Y. EIEE ESCAPE. No. 308,444.

Patented Nov. 25,v 1884.

ENVENTOE:A @5W 'ATTORNEYS E S S. E N T Tl W 2 Sheets-Sheet- 2.

(No Model.)

A. H. TERWILLIGER'.

PIRE ESCAPE. y No. 308,444` Patented Nov. 25, 1884.

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DTVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

UNrrnD Parana tries..

AUGUSTUS HAYT TERVILLIGER, OF NEVVBURG, NEW' YORK.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming, part of Letters Patent No. 308,444, dated November 25, 1884.

Application filed September 13, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS HAYT TER- WILLIGER, of N ewburg, in the county of Orange and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Fire-Escape, of which the followingis afull,clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to anew and improved fire-escape adapted to be built into the wall of a building, and adapted to be closed when not in use by a sliding shield or cover, which is adapted also for elevating firemen to the different stories ofthe building in case of re.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, formingpart of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a front elevation of my new reescape built into the wall of a building near the windows, the lsliding shield being lowered, and thedoors of the boxcsat top and bottorn which contain the pulleys and windlass shown open. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of thc tire-escape, taken on the line xx of Fig. 1, the shield being elevated to conceal the lireescape. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the tireescape, the shield being lowered, and a descending-plate with attached strap shown in position for use. Fig. 4t is a sectional plan view taken on the line y y of Fig. 3, and Figs. 5 and 6 show, respectively, front and edge views of the descending-plate.

A represents a channel or box, formed or built into the wallB of the building alongside of the windows C. This box A, in thisinstance, is composed of the side plates, a a, and back plates, a', and in the box A is placed the stationary plate D, which has the opening d through it near its upper end, in which is pivoted the catch c for holding the shield E in closed position, as hereinafter described. At the top of the box A is formed in the wall B the box A', that is adapted to be closed by the door A2, and contains the sets of pulleys F G, over and against which pass the wire ropes H H, that are attached tb the arms or studs d d of the shield E, as shown in Fig. 2. At the bottom of the box A is formed in the wall B the box A, that is adapted to be closed by the door A, and contains the winding-drum I, to which the said ropes H are attached, and in this box are placed also the guiding-drums J J, against and under which the said ropes H and the shield E pass, as shown in Fig. 2.

K is the escape-plate proper, and L is the descending-plate, to which the person to descend attaches himself by means of the, straps M, or otherwise. The plate K is held between the side plates, a a, of the box A, and has the zigzag slot Kl formed in it. The plate K is formed also opposite each window C with opening e and slot e, that connects the opening e with the zigzag slot K, so that the head f of the pin or bolt Z of the descending-plate L may be inserted into the opening e and passed down the slot e into the main zigzag slot K. `When so entered into the slot K', the edges of the plate L pass i-nto the grooves g g,

made in the side plates, a a, of the main box I or channel A, as shown in Fig. 4, and the flange nearest the windows C is cut away opposite the windows, as shown at g, so that a person reaching out from the window may place the descending plate L properlyv in the said grooves g and slot K, so as todescend to the ground, as hereinafter described. At its upper and lower ends the slot K/ is enlarged, as shown at g2 g3, to permit the passage of the headf of the bolt Z for putting the plate L in place for use at the top of the building, and permitting it to be attached at the bottom. The plate L has the lever N attached to it by the pin or bolt m. The pin or bolt Zabove mentioned is fastened to the upper end of the lever N, and reaches through the slot n made in the'plate L, and to the lower end of the lever N'is attached the strap M, which is adapted to be held by the person descending, and pulled downward by him to retard the vibration of the lever N, caused by the pin Z running in the zigzag slot K, andthus regulate his lspeed of descent.

'The shield E is made up of sections o strung upon one or more wire ropes, p, so that the shield is made flexible and adapted to pass around the drum J, as shown in Fig. 2. The ends of thc sections o run in the grooves g g and 7L 7L, made in the side plates, a a, of the box orvchannel A, as shown in Fig. 4. Near its upper end the upper plate, o', of the shield is formed with the notch c', with which the above-mentioned latch c engages when the shield is raised by turning tliedrum J s0 that IOO the latch c'holds the shield in closed position, as will be understood i'roin Fig. 2, and to the face of the plate is secured the bracket 0, on which aiirenian niay sit or stand to be elevated byturningthe druni l tothe different stories oi' the building, or lowered from one story to another or to the ground.

Zhen the hre-escape is to be used, the latch c must of course be withdrawn from the opening c, and this may be done from the inside of the building through the openings B in the wall B by the sliding plate l? and the bellcrank lever Q, that connects the upper end of the plate l? with the inner end of the latch c, so that on grasping 011e or other oi the handles p on plate P and forcing the plate downward the latch c will be withdrawn from opening c', leaving the shield E free to fall down ot' its own weight from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. l. ln this manner the escape-plate K will be entirely revealed, so that a person by placing the plate L in the grooves g g, now vaca-ted by the shield E, as just described, with the head f ot' the pin Z reaching through the zigzag slot K', may, by holding upon the strap M, descend safely to the ground, the movement of the pin Zwithin zigzag slot K serving as a brake to retard the speed of descent.

In case the person to descend is timid the strap M should be buckled around his body, and he should grasp the strap M and pull downward, which will lock the plateV L to the plate K in the slot K. Then by gradually releasing the downward pull upon the strap M the plate L will descend slowlyto the ground.

Constructed as described the fire-escape is not only practical and reliable, but the shield E when closed entirely conceals it, so that the fire-escape does not disgure the wall ot' the building, and the shield is at the saine time very practical for elevating iiremen into the building to help the inmates to escape and to iight the tire and save property.

Although l have shown my new fire-escape built into the wall, in some instances it might be attached to the wall and not depart from the principle of my invention.

Having thus described myi nvention, I claim' as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. ln a fire-escape, the plate K, having the zigzag slot K, in combination with the descending-plate L, lever N, and pin Z, substantially as described.

2. The box A, iitted in the wall ofthe building and provided with the plate K, in combination with the shield E, adapted to inclose the plate K, substantially as described.

The boxes A A A, formed in the wall of the building, in combination with the shield E, and incans, substantially as described, for raising the shield, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

1. lhe shield E, made iiexible and provided with the bracket O, in combination with the grooved box A, ropes H, and suitable pulleys and winding drums' for elevating the shield, substantially as described.

5. rhe shield E, formed with the opening c', in combination with the catch c, for locking the shield in elevated position.

(j. The plate l), connected with the catch c, and adapted to be operated from the inside of the building` through the openings B, for withdrawing the catch, substantially as described.

7. rlDhe descending-plate L, provided with the lever N, having pin Z, adapted to reach through the slot K, substantially as and for the purpose described.

S. lll1e\plate K, having the zigzag slot K and the openings c and slots e made in it, in.

combination with the descending-plate L, having the lever N, provided with the pin Z, substantially as and for the purposes set i'orth. AUGUSTUS llAll TERWILLGEH. .Vi'tnesses:

E. M. Pnlvr'rin, A. l-. Pnirfrin. 

